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Jun 11 2017

Why “Urban” is a Style of Kizomba, and How to Heal the Divide

There has long been discord between folks who like or prefer what is now called “Urban” (Urban Kiz, Urban Kizomba, Kizomba 2.0, etc.) and those who don’t like it, instead preferring Kizomba/Semba (erroneously called “Traditional” by some). Though there are valid reasons for grievances on both sides, some of which we’ve covered in previous vlogs and blogs, some of this discord has been caused by a lack of understanding, and in any event, has lead to some really nasty vitriol that is harmful to our community and growing industry. We have also noticed people who don’t dance Urban, don’t understand it, and can’t demonstrate any competency in Urban, presuming to speak on Urban with authority, spreading misinformation and undue bias, which is not a good look for our community.

In that vein, we have decided to make this video explaining on a high level what Urban is, what it is not, and what that means for those in the Kizomba community. To give greater understanding, we give a short demo illustrating Kizomba vs. Urban (stripped of all the unnecessary fluff and flash you see on YouTube). We believe Urban is not a separate dance, rather a style of Kizomba, and in this video we explain what that really means for those who seek to teach and learn Kizomba. We also provide a roadmap for those who desire to have some semblance of Unity in our community. Separatists who do not desire unity, this message isn’t for you, but those who want to bring folks together, please check out this video, like, comment, and share!